Many people think that a laboratory refrigerator is just a larger version of the home refrigerator. But there’s more to a lab freezer than a novice knows. Laboratory refrigerators are specifically designed to store critical materials for long periods of time. The temperature of these refrigerators is maintained and remains constant at all times so that the numerous specimens and samples that are kept in it can be kept in a stable environment.
There are mainly two types of laboratory refrigerators. One is called a chest freezer and the other an upright freezer. The main difference between the two is the footprint space they take up. The upright refrigerator, compared to chest refrigerators, takes up a much smaller footprint without having to compromise on storage capacity.
Chest refrigerators are also more effective at cooling and maintaining temperatures by retaining cold air more efficiently than the upright refrigerator. These chest freezers also have the ability to recover and return to the original set temperature even when the freezer door is left open for longer periods of time. However, the biggest advantage upright coolers have over chest coolers is that samples stored in them are much easier to locate.
Laboratory refrigerators work more efficiently when the temperature of the room in which they are kept is also regulated and maintained. Very high temperatures hinder the performance of the refrigerator, so it is better to keep them in rooms that have a maximum temperature of 45 degrees C. However, in rooms with high temperatures the pressure on the compressor of the freezer is greater. Allowing proper air circulation is very important for refrigerators to continue to function well.
Filling the room with too many coolers will increase the heat output from the coolers and increase the overall temperature of the room, putting pressure on the compressor. Laboratory refrigerators cannot be automatically defrosted because this cycle normally destroys biological samples as this method thaws and then refreezes samples.
Laboratory refrigerators are designed taking into account that a series of volatile or flammable objects will be stored in them. Specially designed refrigerators are sometimes used for the sole purpose of storing these samples. Such refrigerators are CFC-free, have compressors that are sealed thematically, and have insulation that foams in place. The design of these refrigerators also allows them to tolerate explosions.
Another very important aspect of the laboratory refrigerator is the alarm system. Most laboratory refrigerator manufacturing companies install an alarm in the refrigerator that is set to sound the moment there is a change in temperature or if the freezer door has been left open. Several refrigerators are also being manufactured with alarm systems, password protection, and temperature charts that allow 24/7 monitoring. Since the advent of computers, refrigerators can be specially designed with your functionality and requirements in mind, making life in the lab much easier.